His Beautiful Addiction

\'\'My father… \'\' she paused, her tears drowning her voice.

\'\'He doesn\'t want us to be together. \'\' Claire\'s eyes shut as she held his shirt, her lips trembling.

\'\'I don\'t know what to do… \'\' she cried, her eyes so heavy. There was a minute silence and then Leo laughed as though he did not know the weight of what she just said;

\'\'haha, is that why you\'re so sad? He\'s just being concerned, he doesn\'t mean it. \'\' He said, pulling her close so he could hug her,

\'\'No, he meant it… he meant every word. \'\' Claire tried to pull away from him so she could stare in his eyes and tell him how serious the matter is, but Leo held her put;

\'\'It\'s okay, it\'s okay, stop crying now. \'\' Leo patted on her back, trying to console her. She struggled for a moment before she finally calmed down, even if she cried from now till the next day, nothing would change. She needed to be sane to know what to do.

Although Leo had laughed earlier, in truth, he was greatly troubled. Her father was not an ordinary person, he was the president, and if he didn\'t want him to be with his daughter, there was nothing he could do about that because he had the power to trace him to any part of the world even if he decides to run away with her.

For a while, he had been so happy that she was his. He had waited for her for years and finally, she loved him back, never did he think that there was a bigger obstacle other than his one-sided love.

\'\'he said… he said I have one week to decide, unless… \'\' Claire swallowed;

\'\'Unless what? \'\' 

Claire bit her tongue, she could not bring herself to say it;

\'\'you can tell me, I\'ve already heard the worst. \'\'

Tears filled her eyes when she heard his broken voice, it was filled with pain.

\'\'Unless…. He\'ll harm you. \'\' she trembled as she said it, her eyes staring straight into his. Leo was quiet for a few seconds, then he caressed her cheeks with his palms; there was so much fear written in her eyes, seeing her like this hurt him;

\'\'We have so much time then; \'\' he smiled faintly trying to lighten the mood but Claire didn\'t find it funny;

\'\'it\'s not funny;\'\' she cried slapping his chest,

\'\'I\'m sorry for joking about it. Right now, I don\'t want to think about it because it would tear me apart. Let\'s not think about it this night; maybe tomorrow but just not this night. Okay? \'\'

Claire held his hand that was over her face and she nodded; \'\'okay. \'\'

They showered, ate, and snuggled together as they watched Netflix. Leo put a funny show that would lift Claire\'s mood and make her laugh, but she just stared at the TV absentmindedly. He knew she was not saying anything because he asked that they don\'t talk about it.

When it was bedtime, she changed into her nightwear and hugged him tight as she slept. Leo held her close and listened to her breaths until it became even, then he opened his eyes.

He didn\'t know how long he stared at her; all he knew was that he blinked only when his eyes stung. Without realizing it, this woman had become his world, he yearned for her like the air he breathed. 

She was scared, he knew it. She feared that her father would harm him, but if being with her was risking his life, then that was the risk he was willing to take.

He couldn\'t imagine the thousand thoughts that must be going on in her mind, she must be so worried, worried about him being hurt, but he didn\'t mind what happened to him, because even if he was going to die loving her, then he would.

…

 \'\'Hello sister; \'\'

Richard greeted jokingly as he walked into Diana\'s living room and sat down without seeking her permission.

\'\'You\'re not my brother; \'\' Diana glared as she placed a plate of cake on the stool in front of him.

\'\'Oh, you\'ll be soon, \'\' he grinned as he picked up the plate; Diana glared at him but did not reply, she sat down opposite him, placing a soft pillow on her laps.

\'\'It\'s been a while; \'\' Richard spoke with a mouthful of cake;

\'\'Because you\'ve been silly; \'\'

He laughed; \'\'Really, I\'ve changed. I need to be responsible now he\'s dead; mom needs someone to care for her. I don\'t want to add to her pain. \'\'

\'\'Wow, wow, that is the most intelligent thing I\'ve heard you say since you were born. \'\' Diana laughed as she clapped her hands for him. Richard rolled his eyes;

\'\'I\'ve always been mannered; I just intentionally behave silly just to prick my father, he acted like an ass sometimes, so I wanted to show him that he could not control my life, but now he\'s no more, there\'s no need behaving stupidly. \'\'

Diana laughed; \'\'you got a lot of energy, man. A huge lot; \'\' she smiled.

\'\'Now I think about it, being siblings won\'t be bad, don\'t you think? \'\' Richard joked;

\'\'Just shut up; \'\'

\'\'Well, my mom has been crying every day, she thinks I don\'t know because she does a good job of applying makeup whenever I\'m home.\'\'

\'\'Why? \'\'

\'\'Because she doesn\'t want to accept your dad\'s proposal; \'\'

Diana stared at him with a puzzled look; \'\'that\'s strange; \'\' she said, giving that they were having an extramarital affair and now that she was given a chance to be with him, she was turning it down.

\'\'Well technically she wants to, but she can\'t. \'\'

\'\'Why? \'\'

\'\'Because she doesn\'t want to disappoint me, she doesn\'t want to disappoint us. I overheard her conversation with your father. She says she wants to be a good person, and she cannot do that knowing that she destroyed someone\'s home. 

To be constantly reminded of what she had done whenever she sees you, us; \'\'

Diana chuckled; \'\'this is funny, why is everyone turning a good leaf? No, I don\'t like this; I want to have baddies around! \'\'